CHENNAI: West Indies coach Phil Simmons on Thursday rubbished reports of rift within the squad and trashed claims of allrounder Odean Smith being victimised ahead of the fourth T20I against England. Smith was an unused bowler during the second T20I and was replaced by Rovman Powell in the third T20. Powell justified his selection by smashing an incredible 107 from 53 balls, including 10 sixes, which helped West Indies win by 20 runs and go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
"For me, that (victimisation) can't happen when I'm here," Simmons told a press conference which TOI attended on Thursday. "You don't victimise anyone. You don't try to pull down anyone. You try to make players a better person first of all, and a better cricketer afterwards. In my coaching career and even in my playing career, you look to help the man next to you. And that's one thing I've been preaching in this team, and in all the teams that I've dealt with. So, there is no such thing as victimisation here and there will be none as long as I'm around," he dismissed the allegations.
